“Hi, I’m Brittany @brittanyydevan. I’m 29 years old and have been chronically ill for a little over 10 years. I have Crohn’s disease, GERD, chronic gastritis and esophagitis, gastroparesis, and fibromyalgia.
I was originally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in August 2011 while I was on vacation in the Dominican Republic. I very quickly became very sick and was rushed to the ER in the DR. I received a diagnosis, was put on multiple medications, and was told to see my primary when we returned home from vacation. I went to my primary doctor, he took one look at me and said that I just had traveler’s diarrhea and to stop all medication. I followed his orders and suffered the consequences. I was re-diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in April 2012 in the US. Since August 2011, my body has never been the same. I’ve been collecting diagnoses since that day. Recently, I’ve lost 32 lbs and all solid food causes me pain. I’ve undergone 7 different procedures and am still searching for answers. Rare Patient Voice gives me a way to validate my own experiences as well as learn about others.”
